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Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The Clayton Center Serves Up Seventh Performing Arts Season

An eclectic mix of music, the down-home musings of one of today’s hottest comediennes and some spectacular magic are on the schedule for The Clayton Center’s 2009-10 performing arts season.

The seventh Palladian Series opens on Saturday, Oct. 17, with two shows by bluegrass icon Ricky Skaggs and his band Kentucky Thunder. Skaggs’ show will feature songs from his 2009 GRAMMY award winning Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass: Tribute To 1946 and 1947, as well as those from the multitude of songs he has produced in his 38-year career. Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder will appear at 4 and 8 p.m. It is their first performance in Clayton since 2003.

Heidi Stump, executive director of The Clayton Center, said, “We are thrilled to bring Ricky Skaggs back to Clayton. He has a huge following in this area, and we expect tickets to this show to sell quickly.

“This is just the first of seven exciting performances that we are able to bring to the community this year. Last year, we sold out five of six of our Palladian Series shows and attracted audiences from all around the region. Audience response to the artists who appear here continues to grow.”

The 2009-10 Palladian Series also brings back to Clayton audience favorite Etta May in her new solo show, Dr. Etta (Family Specialist). Etta May delivers down-home Southern humor in a style all her own on Friday, Jan. 22.

The Palladian Series continues on Feb. 13 with a performance by the Canadian “popera” sensation Destino Tenors, followed by the fifth annual Blues Bash on Feb. 26. Blues Bash V: Soul Mates features Eric Bibb and Ruthie Foster.

The season wraps up with two diverse musical shows. Jazz guitarist, band leader and radio host John Pizzarelli performs his brand of jazz peppered with pop and swing on March 26, while Mike Farris and the Roseland Rhythm Review perform their soulful, Southern gospel inspired arrangements on April 10.

In addition to the Palladian Series, The Clayton Center will offer a special Sunday afternoon event on Nov. 15. The Spencers: Theatre of Illusion is a fun, family show filled with never-before-seen-illusion – original magical creations designed exclusively for these modern-day Houdinis.

All shows are held in the 600-seat renovated historic auditorium at 111 E. Second St. in downtown Clayton, located about 15 miles east of Raleigh.

Season tickets for the Palladian Series, which are $125, are available for purchase beginning Aug. 19. Individual tickets for performances range from $20 to $29 and go on sale Aug. 27. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 919-553-1737, at The Clayton Center Box Office from 10 a.m. until noon and from 1 until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.theclaytoncenter.com.

Other popular artists presented in past seasons at The Clayton Center include Kathy Mattea, Johnny Winter, Jesse Cook, Jim Brickman, Doc Watson, Eileen Ivers, Riders In the Sky, the Harlem Gospel Choir and David Sedaris.